Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Washington University, Department of Anthropology, Bellingham, WA, 26908 [2024-08047]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 26908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08047]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0037760; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Western Washington University, 
Department of Anthropology, Bellingham, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Western Washington University (WWU) has 
completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has 
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the associated 
funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in 
this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice 
may occur on or after May 16, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Judith Pine, Western Washington University, Department 
of Anthropology, Arntzen Hall 340, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 
98225, telephone (360) 650-4783, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of WWU, 
and additional information on the determinations in this notice, 
including the results of consultation, can be found in the inventory or 
related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    Human remains representing, at least, four individuals have been 
reasonably identified and were reported in a Notice of Inventory 
Completion published in the Federal Register on December 22, 2023 (88 
FR 88642). The 63 associated funerary objects associated with those 
human remains are 63 level bags (lots) containing fragments of fauna/
shell, button, charcoal, worked antler and bone, worked slate, metal, 
rocks and residue and are newly identified.
    45-SK-37 is located in Skagit County, Washington. The site was 
excavated in 1960 by Dr. Herbert Taylor of Western Washington State 
College, now known as Western Washington University. Taylor was 
supervising a field school excavation with students from the college. 
No known individuals were identified. No hazardous chemicals are known 
to have been used to treat the human remains or associated funerary 
objects while in the custody of WWU.
    The human remains and associated funerary objects have been 
determined to be Native American based on ethnographic, geographic, and 
archeological evidence. Comparison of the location of site 45-SK-37 
with Suttles and Lane's map indicates that it is in an area associated 
with Nookachamps, Kikiallus, and Swinomish (Suttles and Lane 1990, 
Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 7, Northwest Coast: Figure 
1). Many descendants of these cultural entities are today associated 
with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, as confirmed through 
consultation.
    From Site 45- SK-37 in Skagit County, WA, four individuals and 63 
associated funerary objects were removed.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available 
about the associated funerary objects described in this notice.

Determinations

    WWU has determined that:
     The 63 objects described in this notice are reasonably 
believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual 
human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite 
or ceremony.
     There is a reasonable connection between the human remains 
and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the 
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the associated funerary 
objects in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative 
identified in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation 
may be submitted by:
    1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations identified in this notice.
    2. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal 
descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    Repatriation of the associated funerary objects in this notice to a 
requestor may occur on or after May 16, 2024. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, WWU must determine the most appropriate 
requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the 
associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not 
competing requests. WWU is responsible for sending a copy of this 
notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations 
identified in this notice.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.

    Dated: April 9, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-08047 Filed 4-15-24; 8:45 am]
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